Banned or Controversial Music Videos

This thread can be for old, new - whatever. I find it interesting how much noise there was about this Robert Palmer video - two of the women are in knee-length black up to their neck. Besides the suggestion of mammary movement, there really isn't anything shocking about this. But back then? Oh hell no.

by Anonymous

reply 56

06/20/2010

I didn't remember the black-face in this video.

by Anonymous

reply 1

06/19/2010

Cool video. The only videos that are now banned are videos with the slightest hint of male homosexuality.

I thought that was the most ridiculous thing I'd ever heard at the time.

by Anonymous

reply 5

06/19/2010

It was the religious imagery that got it banned on MTV Europe. I do not think it was banned but it was heavily cut for a while.

by Anonymous

reply 6

06/19/2010

I thought Self Control by Laura Branigan was the first video MTV banned. Why I'm not sure

by Anonymous

reply 7

06/19/2010

Madonna owns this thread. Justify My Love, Erotica, What it Feels Like For a Girl, Like a Prayer....we could be here all day.

by Anonymous

reply 8

06/19/2010

Van Halen's 'Oh, Pretty Woman' was banned, so was 'I'm So Excited' by The Pointer Sisters' because you could see Bonnie's vagina in one scene. Pixilation would've solved the problem, but we weren't doing that yet.

by Anonymous

reply 9

06/19/2010

"Girls on Film" by Duran Duran. I think their video for "The Chauffeur" may have been banned, too, but not 100% certain.

by Anonymous

reply 10

06/19/2010

Enrique Iglesias playing with his pee pee!

by Anonymous

reply 11

06/19/2010

Oops. Meant to post this "Girls on Film". It's the raunchy version, which is kind of tame by today's standards.

by Anonymous

reply 12

06/19/2010

The Doors' video of "The Unknown Soldier" Shot over 40 years ago, and I think it would still have a hard time getting on TV.

by Anonymous

reply 13

06/19/2010

Madonna's Like a Prayer

by Anonymous

reply 14

06/19/2010

I never knew about the controversy over the Pointer Sisters "I'm So Excited" video. But watching the video on YouTube, at the 0:56 mark, it does appear that you can see vag.

by Anonymous

reply 15

06/19/2010

OP, I don't remember that Robert Palmer video being considered controversial or banworthy. What part of the world did you live in?

by Anonymous

reply 16

06/19/2010

Dwight Twilley's "Girls" (which had both male and female nudity)

by Anonymous

reply 17

06/19/2010

The didn't want Judy singing to or even mentioning Kennedy after his assassination - so she sang Battle Hymm of the Republic in tribute and they edited it where she said his name.

by Anonymous

reply 18

06/19/2010

That Robert Palmer video was not considered controversial in the US. It WAS, however, considered to be very sexy, and it jump started Palmer's career for a bit.

by Anonymous

reply 19

06/19/2010

Where did Twilley think this video would be playing?

by Anonymous

reply 20

06/19/2010

R17, I see your "Girls", and I raise you an "Allentown". (skip to 1:57)

by Anonymous

reply 21

06/19/2010

Falco's "Jeanny." The song and video were both controversial -- telling the story of a child kidnapping (and rape?) from the point of view of the kidnapper.

by Anonymous

reply 22

06/19/2010

I couldn't see Enrique's penis at all in that one video... Is that version still censored?

by Anonymous

reply 23

06/19/2010

I don't recall MTV censoring 'Allentown' at all though.

by Anonymous

reply 24

06/19/2010

I remember seeing "I'm So Excited" all the time and always pointing out Bonnie's nudity. The video was not edited years ago. It was in soft focus, I guess that was the justification for not editing it.

My mom was always laughing about it. "I guess they forgot to edit that scene out?"

Didn't Bonnie later pose for Playboy?

by Anonymous

reply 25

06/19/2010

I remember Utah banned Olivia Newton John's song Physical, probably because at the end of the video two guys walk out together. I also remember a big uproar over Garth Brooks' The Thunder Rolls because it was about domestic abuse and murder.

by Anonymous

reply 26

06/19/2010

The Like a Prayer video was never banned. The Pepsi commercial that used the song was withdrawn, though.

JML, Erotica and WIFLFAG were banned, or shown after hours.

by Anonymous

reply 27

06/19/2010

Cher's "If I Could Turn Back Time." Wasn't banned, but was only shown at night.

by Anonymous

reply 28

06/19/2010

[quote]I thought Self Control by Laura Branigan was the first video MTV banned. Why I'm not sure

Because it was a shitty song.

by Anonymous

reply 29

06/19/2010

The Laura video was initally banned and then retooled to be aired. The seduction scene was heavily edited. I would love to see the original unaired video.

Don't forget george michael "I want your sox"

by Anonymous

reply 30

06/19/2010

R24, you are correct. I just wanted to show man ass.

R25, that was June Pointer's pussy we saw. Bonnie Pointer was a solo act, and while a sister to the other Pointers, wasn't with them when they hit it big.

by Anonymous

reply 31

06/19/2010

Madonna's American Life video - not banned, but pulled by the artist herself.

by Anonymous

reply 32

06/19/2010

I seem to recall they banned a Johnny Cash video that features Kate Moss getting killed (or commit suicide)?

by Anonymous

reply 33

06/19/2010

Why, R32 because the song was a steaming pile of shit?

by Anonymous

reply 34

06/19/2010

This video was banned from MuchMusic when I was in high school - seriously:

by Anonymous

reply 35

06/19/2010

R29: Blasphemer!

by Anonymous

reply 36

06/19/2010

George Michael, "Outside".

by Anonymous

reply 37

06/19/2010

I totally remember the controversy around "Addicted To Love." It was thought that the identically-styled women were being presented as objects, or somthing. I don't think it was banned, just controversial.

I'm laughing my ass off about seeing June Pointer's vulva.

by Anonymous

reply 38

06/19/2010

R38 is correct. There was a strong feminist backlash against both Robert Palmer videos ("Simply Irresistible" is the other mannequin video).

Michelle Shocked did a reply video for "On the Greener Side" sometime later.

by Anonymous

reply 39

06/19/2010

[quote]Don't forget george michael "I want your sox"

Hehe!

by Anonymous

reply 40

06/19/2010

Not a video, but my little hometown radio station played an instrumemtal version of "Like A Virgin." The DJ wouldn't even say the name of the song, just "That's Madonna!"

by Anonymous

reply 41

06/19/2010

Even now, the major-market pop radio station in my city of 5m people censors the word "bitch" from "Bad Romance."

by Anonymous

reply 42

06/19/2010

OP, if I remember rightly, the Robert Palmer video was criticized in some circles since the women were 'objectified'. According to some, dressing them all alike dehumanized them and made them look like identical, mindless sex dolls. Most of this outcry was coming from feminists who felt the vacant expressions and identical outfits turned the women into sex objects. But I never heard about the video being banned because of it.

by Anonymous

reply 43

06/19/2010

R43, you're right. I forgot about that. What the hell?

If anything it makes women seem like gorgeous zombies who are talented at musical instruments!

by Anonymous

reply 44

06/19/2010

IIRC, there were four or five women in Palmer's video, but the camera only focused on two of them. Guess the others weren't so hot.

by Anonymous

reply 45

06/19/2010

Can you find a more controversial music video than this?

Marilyn Mansin - (S)aint

by Anonymous

reply 46

06/20/2010

I bought Lady Gaga's CD at Target and every time she says 'Bitch' it's edited out!!! WTH.

by Anonymous

reply 47

06/20/2010

"Don't forget george michael "I want your sox""

Or his other big hit - the one about stinky feet - "Too Funky"

by Anonymous

reply 48

06/20/2010

Even though I like some of Marilyn's music, R46, in order to be controversial people have to give a shit in the first place.

by Anonymous

reply 49

06/20/2010

Is anyone else sort of shocked that the repeated line "Just smoke my cigarette and hush" wasn't cut/censored for the "Alejandro" video and single? I'm sure the nicotine nazis missed it or else they would be in an uproar. I know references to drugs/cigs aren't always cut, but in this case it's repeated so many times over the course of the song I feared they might make a stink about it.

They didn't... yet.

by Anonymous

reply 50

06/20/2010

The original AMERICAN LIFE video - shocking as hell!

by Anonymous

reply 51

06/20/2010

You still can't see the uncut version of Nine Inch Nail's Closer video on Youtube.

by Anonymous

reply 52

06/20/2010

R51, are you serious?

Shocking as hell?

by Anonymous

reply 53

06/20/2010

What was the Tubes video with Fee Waybill's penis?

by Anonymous

reply 54

06/20/2010

The Wild, Wild West with imaginary vage was quite the scandal in the late 80's. Banned in the U. K., I heard.

Get theDL Delivered - The latest on your favorite topics delivered to your email inbox twice a week. It's easy to subscribe and unsubscribe when you want to. Give it a try! It's free so why not? (Click Here for a sample.)

Choose which channels you want to receive (uncheck all to unsubscribe)

Gossip

Entertainment

Politics

Important: Once you save your settings the first time you will receive a confirmation email. Please check your mail and click on the link in the email to complete your subscription.

No, we will not share your email address with anyone or send you spam.

Loading

Modal title

Yes indeed, we too use "cookies." Don't you just LOVE clicking on these things on
every single site you visit? I know we do! You can thank the EU parliament for
making everyone in the world click on these pointless things while changing
absolutely nothing. If you are interested you can take a look at
our privacy/terms or if you just want to see the damn
site without all this bureaucratic nonsense,
click ACCEPT
and we'll set a dreaded cookie to make it go away. Otherwise, you'll just have
to find some other site
for your pointless bitchery needs.